Remember the so-called "Antennagate" crisis? While it seems like forever ago that iPhone 4 users whined about antenna problems with their handsets, they'll probably be reminded about it when their settlement check hits the mailbox.

With the rumor mill in high gear about a new iPhone announcement now less than a month away, it seems like odd timing for Apple to push out a new bumper color for the existing iPhone 4/4S, but at least this one is for a good cause.

If you’re an iPhone 4 owner who was unhappy with Apple’s offer of a free bumper to resolve your “Antennagate” related woes, you’ll now be able to cash in on that despair thanks to a class action settlement -- but don’t fill your eyes with dollar signs just yet.

Remember “Antennagate,” the iPhone 4 controversy where then-CEO Steve Jobs reportedly told an inquisitive user that they were “holding it wrong”? Those were good times, but for most of us, Antennagate faded into the history books after Apple handed out free cases. Legally, however, things have only just now come to a close.

The spotlight is back on the iPhone 4, with the first Verizon commercial hitting YouTube and new, slightly modified bumper cases that work with both carrier’s models making their way to an Apple Store near you.

Hmmm…apparently Apple may have been listening to the cries of many who claimed that late August/early September was way too long for receiving a free iPhone 4 case. That could be a lot of dropped calls before then right? Well apparently Apple is shipping some already, with delivery dates as early as August 2nd.

As we mentioned earlier, Apple promised to make its free iPhone 4 case program available later this week -- and that time has arrived. In a unique twist, in order to claim your free iPhone 4 case, you first have to download an app to your device, which then lets you select the case of your choice.

From the way that Apple’s “Antennagate” PR crisis has unfolded in the media, you may be surprised to learn that the bad press is not equating to lost sales. But despite that, it’s still going to cost Apple a hefty sum of cash to appease customers with free cases.

So, it looks like Apple decided to play big kids and own up to the iPhone 4 reception issues after all. Free bumpers! Free cases! Other smartphones have the same problems! The iPhone 4 only drops marginally more calls than the previous model! Wait, run that last one by us again. And when you're done processing this particular bit of news, check out the other goings on around MacTown with the other big kids on the block, Mac|Life.